DUSHANBE, February 12, 2016, Asia-Plus -- Last week the Republic of Tajikistan and the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) signed an agreement to finance 2nd phase of already successful Livestock and Pasture Development Project (LPDPII), an initiative that aims to reduce the vulnerability of pastoral communities to climate change threats.

The agreement was signed in Rome by Abdusalom Qurboniyon, Minister for Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan, and by Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of IFAD.  The project represents an important step forward in the collaboration between Tajikistan and IFAD.

The total cost of this phase is estimated at US $24.2 million. The funding is comprised of an $8.7 million IFAD loan, an $8.7 million IFAD grant, and an additional $5 million grant from IFAD''s Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP).  The government of Tajikistan will contribute an estimated $0.44 million while beneficiaries will provide $0.85 million.

LPDPII aims to reach an additional 38000 rural households in five districts of the Khatlon province.  It will mainly target smallholder livestock farmers, private veterinary service providers, woman-headed households as well as women belonging to poor households.  Specifically, the project will focus on developing institutions for effective management of pasture resources by local communities, and enhancing productivity of livestock by improving animal health and nutrition.  Through a grant provided by IFAD’s climate fund, one of the tools that will enable livestock farmers to maximize the use of pastures is a monitoring and evaluation system of pasture productivity.

Preparation and implementation support of both phases has been provided by the Investment Centre of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.